Head of the River Race March 15, 2008

The Head of the River Race, another popular annual March event in London is a truly traditional London event involves a staggering 420 eights, making it the largest continuous rowing event in the world, where teams of rowers take to the waves for a huge race along the Thames and row their way from Mortlake to Putney Bridge.

The Head of the River Race measures a hardy four and quarter miles (6800m) in total from Mortlake to Putney, as opposed to the usual 1000m for a regatta and 2000m for the Olympics, and usually takes a boat two hours in all to finish.

Even if you will not be participating at the event it is still good fun to watch and be a part of the crowd by taking the opportunity to watch from a nearby cafe or pub surrounding the Thames. You can simply enjoy the view of the river, the race and hopefully a good weather! Apparently the best view is from the north side of Hammersmith Bridge, although it is advisable to check with local police on the day to see that the bridge isn't closed. The view from the Surrey bank above Chiswick Bridge is also recommended.

Cost: Free
Time: Starts at Mortlake at 9.45am

Nearest Underground Stations:-
Kew Gardens Tube (25 minutes)
Gunnersbury Tube (34 minutes)

Nearest Hotels: Stay at one of our London hotels: Quality Crown Paddington, Quality Crown Hyde Park, Quality Crown Hotel Kensington, Derby Hotel Kensington, and Comfort Inn Notting Hill, which are all located centrally and are walking distance to tube stations.

Official Website: http://www.lth-hotels.com/london_events/head_of_the_river_race.htm